excessive influence

USAGE SUMMARY

'excessive influence' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation in which someone or something is having an unusually strong influence over someone or something else. For example, "The excessive influence of the wealthy 1% on our political system has caused inequality to increase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

But what is unique is the level of secrecy and excessive influence that they facilitate".

The Guardian - Opinion

Civil society organisations were heard to complain of the excessive influence multinationals were exerting.

The Guardian

Tory MPs are blaming Cameron's actions on the excessive influence of the Liberal Democrats.

The Guardian

Officials at the E.P.A. do not see excessive influence by financial speculators.

The New York Times

And some of the ideas about art that were generated at that time continue to exercise excessive influence today.

The Guardian - Arts

This system gives excessive influence to those relatively few "swing voters" willing to support either major party.

The New York Times

"We are convinced that this regrettable situation is in part due to one person's excessive influence in university affairs.

The New York Times

We must stop the excessive influence of big business in politics, which is today a major threat to true democracy.

The Guardian - Opinion

The club's forwards coach, Alex Sanderson, believes citing officers now have excessive influence and are placing potentially innocent players at risk of a "public lynching".

The Guardian - Sport

There was also an unhealthy tribalism and a Tammany Hall political machine in which union bosses had excessive influence in picking candidates and deciding policy.

The Guardian

We don't deny that a private contribution system may pose the risk of excessive influence by large contributors, especially when these contributions go directly to candidates.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "excessive influence", ensure the context clearly identifies who or what is being influenced and who or what is exerting the influence. This clarifies the relationship and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "excessive influence" without specifying the source and target of the influence. For example, instead of saying "There is excessive influence", specify "The lobbyist groups have excessive influence over the committee's decisions".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive influence" functions as a noun phrase, where "excessive" modifies the noun "influence". It describes the degree or extent to which something affects or controls a situation, person, or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "excessive influence" is a commonly used and grammatically sound expression that describes situations where something or someone exerts too much control or power. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It carries a negative connotation and is used to express concern or disapproval. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media, but is also present in scientific and encyclopedic contexts. To avoid vagueness, it's best to specify the source and target of the influence. Alternatives such as "undue influence" or "disproportionate impact" may be more suitable depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

undue influence

Emphasizes the inappropriateness or illegality of the influence.

disproportionate impact

Focuses on the unequal or unbalanced effect produced.

inordinate control

Highlights the excessive degree of power or command exerted.

overbearing sway

Suggests a dominating and oppressive form of influence.

unwarranted leverage

Indicates that the advantage or power is unjustified or undeserved.

immoderate effect

Focuses on the lack of restraint in the consequence or outcome.

unreasonable pressure

Highlights the unfair or unjustifiable exertion of force or persuasion.

unbalanced power

Suggests an inequitable distribution of authority or strength.

extreme bias

Emphasizes the prejudice or partiality involved.

heavy-handed manipulation

Implies a clumsy and forceful attempt to control or influence.

FAQs

How can I use "excessive influence" in a sentence?

You can use "excessive influence" to describe situations where someone or something has too much power over a decision or outcome. For example: "The corporation's donations gave them "excessive influence" over the politicians' votes".

What is a good alternative to "excessive influence"?

Depending on the specific context, you could use phrases like "undue influence", "disproportionate impact", or "inordinate control".

What's the difference between "excessive influence" and "undue influence"?

"Excessive influence" generally means too much influence, while "undue influence" often implies that the influence is also unethical, illegal, or unfair.

Is it always negative to describe something as having "excessive influence"?

Yes, using the term "excessive influence" almost always carries a negative connotation, suggesting that the level of influence is inappropriate or harmful. A more neutral term might be "significant influence" if you don't want to imply negativity.